Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Eliot Spitzer rolled into Syracuse last night and spoke to a crowd of about 100 supporters at the Erie Canal Museum.

As supporters gather, preparations are made for Spitzer's visit.

Nancy Hallock (l) and Kaye Jaeger (r), members of SEIU 1199

Eliot Spitzer's bus rolled in to the tune of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

Eliot Spitzer emerged from the bus smiling, waving, and shaking hands as he approached the outdoor podium.

Attorney General Spitzer reminded the crowd that the Erie Canal helped to make New York City the place it is today. When Dewitt Clinton had the vision for the canal, there was a lack of hope that it would live up to its alleged potential. There was a decided Upstate vs. Downstate mentality, and he believed that was a fitting metaphor for this time as we see gridlock in Albany, population loss in the state, employment losses, and a palpable sense of doom.

Spitzer said, "We know a good project when we see it."

"We need to shake the lethargy out of Albany," said Spitzer, insisting that reform must be confronted in a "head-on" manner. Having just visited the city of Rochester where women's rights activist Susan B Anthony lived, he quoted the historic activist:

"Careful, cautious people, always casting about to preserve their reputations, can never effect a reform."

He reminded his supporters, "No one has ever called me cautious." He promised to continue to risk the tough fights and to stand up, unafraid of losing, even if he risks getting "scuffed up" a little bit. He ended by saying that his goal is creating the kind of government that works for the People, and not the other way around.

Small business owner Scott Huffman from Charlotte, N.C. eloquently brings the issue of Net Neutrality, local politics (Rep. Sue Myrick), national politics, the danger of mega-mergers and improper FCC oversight into focus in a way that citizens can easily understand. All this occurred in a seven-minute conversation with Mike Collins on May 23 during "Open Phones" on his radio show "Charlotte Talks." We may be hearing more from Mr. Huffman on future Charlotte Talks shows. I highly recommend that you listen to Scott and Mike. This is eye-opening.

Hear Al Gore talk about global warming at NPR. He discusses the melting of the North Pole. Definitely not good news for Santa Claus.

The Internet

The Net Squared conference is happening now in San Jose, Ca. The conference blog is here. One of today's highlights was a session with Democracy Now's Amy Goodman on Grassroots, Netroots, and the End and Beginning of Politics. (Sure wish I could have been there).

Media

In a review of the glaring hypocrisy we see in journalism today, Joe Conason asks: "Is there a reason why the enduring, 30-year bond of the Clintons merits more withering scrutiny than the multiple unhappy marriages of ambitious politicians such as Senator John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani? Is there a reason why the marital privacy of elected officials should be violated, while media moguls like Rupert Murdoch can discard their wives with impunity?"

Today's ABC News Political Note has some juicy gossip about the Associated Press' veteran political journalist Ron Fournier. They ask: What is Fournier's new job (related to the World Wide Web) and which potential 2008 presidential candidates are familiar enough with the AP to have educated guesses about who might replace Fournier in this slot (and has begun sucking up to them)? ;)

Iraq

An Iraqi war veteran is suing filmmaker Michael Moore over the use of certain footage in his film "Fahrenheit 9/11". It's in the New York Post, naturally. It's a "feelings" lawsuit. In a nutshell, the double-amputee felt used; misrepresented. He can't lose, when you think about it. Even if unsuccessful in the litigation, the vet's views will be made clearly known to the public.

"A government has been formed in Iraq. It is a defective government, in the sense that it does not yet have a defense or interior minister. It is an ineffective government, insofar as the ability to govern directly is at this point limited institutionally, politically and functionally. Ultimately, what exists now is less a government than a political arrangement between major elements of Iraq's three main ethnic groups. And that is what makes this agreement of potentially decisive importance: If it holds, it represents the political foundation of a regime....If it holds. If it holds, the rest is almost easy. If it doesn't hold, the rest is impossible..."

Jude Says..

Followers

About Me

Iddybud is a descendant of American patriots, membership to DAR pending, a descendant of a family member who lost another dubious American Presidential election in 1876, so you might understand why she took Selection 2000 to heart.

desiderata - by max ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann c.1920